The Handmaid's Tale Themes
Freewill in thinking
We know that Offred has some degree of awareness of being 'brainwashed' or inducted into Gilead, but we don't know how much of her thoughts are her own, or how many of them are accurate because of this.
causes of complacency
the role of gender in society (in relation to power)
education and knowledge, power
religion and ideology
sex/reproduction
clothing
role
handmaids, marthas, wives
commanders, footmen
The value/worth of an individual
the value of an individual within society
How their value is determined
physical "expertise": Handmaids (Reproductive System)
Skills: Marthas (Cooking)
handmaid's are not supposed to interact with other men
Offred's value is dependent on her fertility
Handmaids: dress in red and have wing folded over their faces
Martha's aren't allowed to develop relationships with Handmaids
friendship
Friendship vs personal survival/wellbeing
women have no individualtiy
the role of language in politics and power
Hand maids are not allowed to drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol
Friendship between Offred and
not only men vs women but also: women vs women
danger of totalitarianism, language as a tool for repression,
rivalry between women is encouraged
celebrations and traditions: “Prayvaganzas,” “Salvagings,” and “Particicutions”
women are defined by domestic ranking, men are defined by military ranking
Names of Handmaids reveal to which commander they belong: Offred + Offlegen
wives vs handmaids
handmaids vs handmaids
pregnancy (who first and is the child healthy?)
biblical terms: Sons of Jacob (Jews), Children of Ham (black people
"spying" on each other (on the daily walks)
power in the household --> the woman at the mans side vs the woman with whom he has/might have children
maintains control of women's bodies
unbabies, unwomen
individuality and what it means to be human
The different roles (as Rita says: "better her than me" about being a handmaid)
women are not allowed to read
the 'old greeting' (i.e. hello) is forbidden
lower/working class women between higher class woman
Atwood warns of 'not paying attention'
women vs unworn
If people have some freedom to make decisions (even if between unappealing options) people will endure oppression
Offred escapes by chance, not through resistance
only a "function", not for pleasure
Thus, made to be a "ritual" between the Handmaid, the Wife and the Commander
Offred remembers her mother saying that it is “truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations"
women oppress and indoctrinate other women, despite being oppressed themselves
Serena Joy and Aunt Lydia enjoy exercising power over other women
Gilead is a theocracy, founded on literal Old Testament interpretations
store names: milk and honey
Handmaid: based on the biblical precedent of Rachel and Leah,
fertile servants can carry on adulterous relationships to allow infertile women like the Commander’s Wife to have families
epigraph: Commander reads before each ceremony as justification
criticism of how theocracies interpret ideologies for oppression
many biblical quotes are altered, Offred knows, but can't check
storytelling and memory
formed based on audio recordings of Offred telling story, old-fashioned storytelling tradition
Offred switches between time periods. seems like Offred lives in several worlds, the terrible present, the confusing but free past, and the Rachel and Leah Center that bridged them
tenses shift, some past some present
her uncertainty is brought out by her pondering at other peoples' fate and intentions (e.g. Luke's fate, is Ofglen lying or a believer, does Nick touch her foot on accident or on purpose)
she imagines events (has little to do): Aunt Lydia and Janine talking about Moira, what Nick might think of her and the Commander’s relationship
brings out boredom, suspicion, paranoia, "we, like Offred, are trapped within the echo-chamber of her mind"
rights and responsibilities of individual in society
Offred doesn't know what's going on, but neither does Commander
lives in a state of paranoia and confusion
Offred is not allowed to read